asterisk users - Sep 2011 - Asterisk server: Console or GUI OS ? Init level 3 or init level 5 ?

I'm about to start building my asterisk server and I can't seem to find
anything that discusses the pros and cons of installing the OS (Fedora 15)
as console only or GUI, ie install KDE as well.

So, other than a bit of disk space, is there any reason why I shouldn't
install KDE when I set it up ?

Is there any great disadvantage to running the server in init level 5 (ie
KDE, xorg, etc) running in the background, but not being logged in, versus
init level 3 ? (Or whatever they call these things these days..., ie F15
uses systemd...)

FWIW, my server hardware will sit on a server rack in the utility room.  I
might drag a display and keyboard down there once in a while to troubleshoot
and/or do maintenance, but mostly I'd ssh in and probably use a remote
desktop app to work on it.

FWIW, I'm OK doing things via the CLI, but sometimes its really nice to have
graphical tools.

I look forward to your input.

Thanks
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I personally would never install a GUI o/s. By doing so you always open
yourself up to more security concerns.. Packages / ports / etc.

 

Course one might argue - "it's behind a firewall"..

 

In my professional experience with running numerous ISP and VoITSPs the rule
has always been install the minimum needed software to accomplish the goal.

 

 

From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of linux guy
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 2:21 PM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: [asterisk-users] Asterisk server: Console or GUI OS ? Init level 3
or init level 5 ?

 

I'm about to start building my asterisk server and I can't seem to find
anything that discusses the pros and cons of installing the OS (Fedora 15)
as console only or GUI, ie install KDE as well.

So, other than a bit of disk space, is there any reason why I shouldn't
install KDE when I set it up ?

Is there any great disadvantage to running the server in init level 5 (ie
KDE, xorg, etc) running in the background, but not being logged in, versus
init level 3 ? (Or whatever they call these things these days..., ie F15
uses systemd...)

FWIW, my server hardware will sit on a server rack in the utility room.  I
might drag a display and keyboard down there once in a while to troubleshoot
and/or do maintenance, but mostly I'd ssh in and probably use a remote
desktop app to work on it.

FWIW, I'm OK doing things via the CLI, but sometimes its really nice to have
graphical tools.

I look forward to your input.

Thanks

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linux guy wrote:
> So, other than a bit of disk space, is there any reason why I 
> shouldn't install KDE when I set it up ?

KDE has other associated background services that "may" slow a machine
down.  If you're looking for a DE, I'd go with something light weight.  
LXDE is my preferred choice.

But mostly I run the graphical tools for Mandriva/Mageia over SSH.

Doug


-- 

Ben Franklin quote:

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary
Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

On Mon, 12 Sep 2011, linux guy wrote:
> I'm about to start building my asterisk server and I can't seem to
find
> anything that discusses the pros and cons of installing the OS (Fedora 
> 15) as console only or GUI, ie install KDE as well.
Parts left out don't get broke.

Install the absolute minimum OS (deselect everything) and 'yum in' the 
packages you actually need.

When you configure Asterisk, set 'autoload = no' and explicitly load the
modules you actually use.
> Is there any great disadvantage to running the server in init level 5 
> (ie KDE, xorg, etc) running in the background, but not being logged in, 
> versus init level 3 ? (Or whatever they call these things these days..., 
> ie F15 uses systemd...)
The 'run level' you configure Asterisk to start at is not dependent on
the
interface. You can chkconfig Asterisk to run at levels 2345 regardless of 
the interface installed.
> FWIW, I'm OK doing things via the CLI, but sometimes its really nice to
> have graphical tools.
None of the servers I manage have a GUI installed. All are administrated 
over ssh. The only situation where having a GUI installed would be 
convenient would be if I were local to the console and wanted to run 
wireshark.

-- 
Thanks in advance,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Edwards       sedwards at sedwards.com      Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST
Newline                                              Fax: +1-760-731-3000

On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 12:21:06PM -0600, linux guy wrote:
>FWIW, I'm OK doing things via the CLI, but sometimes its really nice to
have
>graphical tools.
To add to what everyone else has said: if you _really_ need to run a
graphical tool on the server, you can always ssh -X into it without
having to have a full desktop installed there.

(As for wireshark: tcpdump on site, then bring the capture file home to
analyse with wireshark. Works for me...)

Roger

See comments inline.

On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 2:21 PM, linux guy <linuxguy123 at gmail.com>
wrote:
> I'm about to start building my asterisk server and I can't seem to
find
> anything that discusses the pros and cons of installing the OS (Fedora 15)
> as console only or GUI, ie install KDE as well.
>
>
If you want an OS that is going to be supported a year from now, don't use
Fedora.

Go for CentOS which is essentially Red Hat Enterprise, Fedora is pretty much
beta RHEL.  It's EOL is one year from my understanding.

You want to install the very minimum as most people would agree, why do you
think you need a GUI.

Best practice is to only install the bare minimum on a server.

> So, other than a bit of disk space, is there any reason why I shouldn't
> install KDE when I set it up ?
>
It has and will cause issues.  I have installed KDE or whatever but booted
to init 3 for a couple of machines.  I could go to init 5 if I had to, but I
never did had to.  I don't see a single pro, but there are many cons.

What benefit do you get from KDE?  Why do you want it.  Is this just going
to be an asterisk server or a desktop?

>
> Is there any great disadvantage to running the server in init level 5 (ie
> KDE, xorg, etc) running in the background, but not being logged in, versus
> init level 3 ? (Or whatever they call these things these days..., ie F15
> uses systemd...)
>
> FWIW, my server hardware will sit on a server rack in the utility room.  I
> might drag a display and keyboard down there once in a while to
troubleshoot
> and/or do maintenance, but mostly I'd ssh in and probably use a remote
> desktop app to work on it.

How does remote desktop help you over an SSH CLI?

> FWIW, I'm OK doing things via the CLI, but sometimes its really nice to
> have graphical tools.
>
>
Ok, I can understand, I used to be like this for a while.  I am a huge fan
of Webmin for a GUI.  It allows for almost everything and for me, it is
better than KDE or anything else.  It is just a webpage with tools
attached.  No big potential problem there.

> I look forward to your input.
>
> Thanks
>
> --
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On 12/09/11 02:21 PM, linux guy wrote:
> I'm about to start building my asterisk server and I can't seem to
find
> anything that discusses the pros and cons of installing the OS (Fedora
> 15) as console only or GUI, ie install KDE as well.
http://ofps.oreilly.com/titles/9780596517342/asterisk-Install.html#Installing_id291070

-- 
Leif Madsen
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/asterisk